Food and Drink – Scoop Central

Should your doctor decide that it is time to test your cholesterol, he or she will send you for a blood test, and then wait for the numbers for your cholesterol to come back. You would do well to spend a little discussing these numbers with your doctor, covering how you can improve them if that is in fact needed, and find out what your risk is for heart disease.

If your cholesterol numbers are not acceptable, your doctor may suggest that you take prescription medications to help get your cholesterol levels in a better range as quickly as possible. If you do not do this it could lead to heart attacks, so take seriously the medical advice you are given.

Now, if your numbers are reasonable, your medical practitioner may just encourage you to improve your diet, switching to one that is low cholesterol, and does not contain many foods of high cholesterol regularly.

Once you are aware of the foods that are good and bad for you, then switching to good foods should not be a problem, especially as you know that once you are eating better, your heart health will be improving, and your risk of heart problems will be getting less.

This is exactly what you want, a healthy heart. But along with the avoidance of a high cholesterol diet, you need to be exercising, may be four days a week going for a brisk walk for about 30 minutes, as this will help your fitness level, and your overall health.

So, if you are to consume foods low in cholesterol , what does that mean you will be consuming, and what foods should you not eat? It is necessary to avoid an excess of animal products, this means red meats should be eaten in moderation, with only the leanest cuts of meat being considered. Egg yolks are also of high cholesterol, but the egg whites are good for you, so think about moving over to egg white products rather than complete eggs.

On the list of not recommended is butter, as it is derived from an animal, so if you still want to in oil, think about using olive oil, especially virgin olive oil. This is less processed than light olive oil which is so called just because it is lighter in color, not lighter in calories.

Oat bran and oatmeal is good for you to eat, and is a great way to start your day. It gives your body soluble fibre, which is also found in apples, pears and barley.

Dried peas, beans and lentils, otherwise called legumes are good for you, because not only do they provide you with soluble fibre, but they also contain plant protein, which is good for the growth of muscles and tendons, as well as good for healthy blood, bones, hair and internal organs too.

Naturally, there are many more foods that contribute to a diet low in cholesterol, but there is limited space here. What is important is to start reducing your cholesterol now, so that you are not at risk of heart disease or strokes. But of course, the choice is yours, lower your cholesterol now, or have the threat of heart attacks and strokes in your future.